Electronic cigarette with illuminated tip

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to electronic cigarettes. More particularly, to electronic cigarettes including a circumferential light guide that distributes light transmitted by a light source, and controller circuitry that variably illuminates the circumferential light guide of the electronic cigarette based on a user&#39;s draw strength.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/808,249, filed Mar. 3, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/175,129, filed Oct. 30, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No.10,863,776, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/901,328, filed Feb. 21, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,143,241, which isa division of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/219,043, filed Jul. 25, 2016,now U.S. Pat. No. 9,974,338. These applications are incorporated hereinby reference.

a. FIELD

The instant disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette with anilluminated tip; and more particularly to structure and controllercircuitry that illuminates the tip of the electronic cigarette based ondraw strength.

B. BACKGROUND ART

Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarette (eCigs) and personalvaporizers (PVs), are electronic inhalers that vaporize or atomize aliquid solution into an aerosol mist that may then be delivered to auser. A typical eCig has two main parts—a power supply portion and acartomizer (also referred to as an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion).The power supply portion typically includes a rechargeable lithium-ion(Li-ion) battery, a light emitting diode (LED), and a pressure sensor.The cartomizer typically includes a liquid solution, an atomizer and amouthpiece. The atomizer typically includes a heating coil thatvaporizes the liquid solution.

The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate the presentfield and should not be taken as a disavowal of claim scope.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an eCig is disclosed. TheeCig including a circumferential light guide that seeks to evenlydistribute light transmitted by a light source, and controller circuitrythat illuminates the circumferential light guide of the electroniccigarette based on a user's draw strength.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an electroniccigarette including a sensor, controller circuitry, and a light source.The sensor determining a user draw characteristic, and transmitting adraw signal indicative of the determined user draw characteristic. Thecontroller circuitry communicatively coupled to the sensor, and receivesthe draw signal from which it determines a light intensity signaltransmission. The light source is communicatively coupled to thecontroller circuitry, and receives the light intensity signal from thesensor—thereafter emitting an intensity of light corresponding to thereceived light intensity signal. In some embodiments, the user drawcharacteristic comprises a magnitude of a user draw on the electroniccigarette. In more specific embodiments, the sensor comprises a massairflow sensor, wherein the user draw characteristic corresponds to amass of air moving through the electronic cigarette during the userdraw.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to anelectronic cigarette including a sensor, a light source, and controllercircuitry. The sensor determines a magnitude of a draw characteristic,and transmits a signal indicative of the determined magnitude of thedraw characteristic. The light source emits a varying intensity of lightin response to an input signal. The controller circuitry iscommunicatively coupled to the sensor and the light source, and thecontroller circuitry receives, from the sensor, the signal indicative ofa draw characteristic. In response to receiving the signal indicative ofthe determined magnitude of the draw characteristic, the controllercircuitry associates the determined magnitude of the draw characteristicwith an intensity of the light source, and generates the input signal tothe light source based on the light intensity associated with thedetermined magnitude of the draw characteristic. In some embodiments,the sensor is a mass airflow sensor that determines a mass flowrate ofthe draw.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to acircumferential light guide apparatus including a partialcircumferential feature, opposing distal ends on either side of thepartial circumferential feature, an aperture between the distal ends,and an outer surface. The opposing distal ends receive and direct lightinto the partial circumferential feature. In response to receivinglight, the outer surface including variable surface texture distributesthe directed light along the outer surface of the circumferential lightguide. In some embodiments, the circumferential light guide apparatusfurther includes an electronic circuit board positioned within theaperture. The electronic circuit board including at least one lightsource substantially directed toward at least one of the opposing distalends.

Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the disclosure maybe set forth or apparent from consideration of the detailed descriptionand drawings. Moreover, it is to be understood that the foregoingsummary of the disclosure and the following detailed description anddrawings are exemplary and intended to provide further explanationwithout limiting the scope of the disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various example embodiments may be more completely understood inconsideration of the following detailed description in connection withthe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an eCig, consistent withvarious aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded assembly view of an eCig, consistent withvarious aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is an isometric front view of a circumferential light guide,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a top view of a circumferential light guide, consistent withvarious aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3C is a side view of a circumferential light guide, consistent withvarious aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3D is a bottom view of a circumferential light guide, consistentwith various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is an isometric front view of a tip diffuser, consistent withvarious aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is an isometric back view of the tip diffuser of FIG. 4A,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the tip diffuser taken along lineA-A of FIG. 4A, consistent with various aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is an isometric front view of a flexible circuit board,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6A is a top view of a partially assembled eCig, consistent withvarious aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the partially assembled eCig takenalong line B-B of FIG. 6A, consistent with various aspects of thepresent disclosure.

While various embodiments discussed herein are amenable to modificationsand alternative forms, aspects thereof have been shown by way of examplein the drawings and will be described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that the intention is not to limit the disclosureto the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intentionis to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives fallingwithin the scope of the disclosure including aspects defined in theclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereofare explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodimentsand examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and detailed in the following.

Throughout the following, an electronic smoking device will beexemplarily described with reference to an e-cigarette. As is shown inFIG. 1, an e-cigarette 10 typically has a housing comprising acylindrical hollow tube having an end cap 12. The cylindrical hollowtube may be a single-piece or a multiple-piece tube. In FIG. 1, thecylindrical hollow tube is shown as a two-piece structure having a powersupply portion 14 and an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16. Togetherthe power supply portion 14 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16form a cylindrical tube which can be approximately the same size andshape as a conventional cigarette, typically about 100 mm with a 7.5 mmdiameter, although lengths may range from 70 to 150 or 180 mm, anddiameters from 5 to 28 mm.

The power supply portion 14 and atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16 aretypically made of metal (e.g., steel or aluminum, or of hardwearingplastic) and act together with the end cap 12 to provide a housing tocontain the components of the e-cigarette 10. The power supply portion14 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16 may be configured to fittogether by, for example, a friction push fit, a snap fit, a bayonetattachment, a magnetic fit, or screw threads. The end cap 12 is providedat the front end of the power supply portion 14. The end cap 12 may bemade from translucent plastic or other translucent material to allow alight emitting diode (LED) 18 positioned near the end cap to emit lightthrough the end cap. Alternatively, the end cap may be made of metal orother materials that do not allow light to pass.

An air inlet may be provided in the end cap, at the edge of the inletnext to the cylindrical hollow tube, anywhere along the length of thecylindrical hollow tube, or at the connection of the power supplyportion 14 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16. FIG. 1 shows apair of air inlets 20 provided at the intersection between the powersupply portion 14 and the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16.

A power supply, preferably a battery 22, the LED 18, control electronics24 and, optionally, an airflow sensor 26 are provided within thecylindrical hollow tube power supply portion 14. The battery 22 iselectrically connected to the control electronics 24, which areelectrically connected to the LED 18 and the airflow sensor 26. In thisexample, the LED 18 is at the front end of the power supply portion 14,adjacent to the end cap 12; and the control electronics 24 and airflowsensor 26 are provided in the central cavity at the other end of thebattery 22 adjacent the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16.

The airflow sensor 26 acts as a puff detector, detecting a user puffingor sucking on the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16 of thee-cigarette 10. The airflow sensor 26 can be any suitable sensor fordetecting changes in airflow or air pressure, such as a microphoneswitch including a deformable membrane which is caused to move byvariations in air pressure. Alternatively, the sensor may be, forexample, a Hall element or an electro-mechanical sensor.

The control electronics 24 are also connected to an atomizer 28. In theexample shown, the atomizer 28 includes a heating coil 30 which iswrapped around a wick 32 extending across a central passage 34 of theatomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16. The central passage 34 may, forexample, be defined by one or more walls of the liquid reservoir and/orone or more walls of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16 of thee-cigarette 10. The coil 30 may be positioned anywhere in the atomizer28 and may be transverse or parallel to a longitudinal axis of acylindrical liquid reservoir 36. The wick 32 and heating coil 30 do notcompletely block the central passage 34. Rather an air gap is providedon either side of the heating coil 30 enabling air to flow past theheating coil 30 and the wick 32. The atomizer may alternatively useother forms of heating elements, such as ceramic heaters, or fiber ormesh material heaters. Nonresistance heating elements such as sonic,piezo, and jet spray may also be used in the atomizer in place of theheating coil.

The central passage 34 is surrounded by the cylindrical liquid reservoir36 with the ends of the wick 32 abutting or extending into the liquidreservoir 36. The wick 32 may be a porous material such as a bundle offiberglass fibers or cotton or bamboo yarn, with liquid in the liquidreservoir 36 drawn by capillary action from the ends of the wick 32towards the central portion of the wick 32 encircled by the heating coil30.

The liquid reservoir 36 may alternatively include wadding (not shown inFIG. 1) soaked in liquid which encircles the central passage 34 with theends of the wick 32 abutting the wadding. In other embodiments, theliquid reservoir may comprise a toroidal cavity arranged to be filledwith liquid and with the ends of the wick 32 extending into the toroidalcavity.

An air inhalation port 38 is provided at the back end of theatomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16 remote from the end cap 12. Theinhalation port 38 may be formed from the cylindrical hollow tubeatomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16 or may be formed in an end cap.

In use, a user sucks on the e-cigarette 10. This causes air to be drawninto the e-cigarette 10 via one or more air inlets, such as air inlets20, and to be drawn through the central passage 34 towards the airinhalation port 38. The change in air pressure which arises is detectedby the airflow sensor 26, which generates an electrical signal that ispassed to the control electronics 24. In response to the signal, thecontrol electronics 24 activate the heating coil 30, which causes liquidpresent in the wick 32 to be vaporized creating an aerosol (which maycomprise gaseous and liquid components) within the central passage 34.As the user continues to suck on the e-cigarette 10, this aerosol isdrawn through the central passage 34 and inhaled by the user. At thesame time, the control electronics 24 also activate the LED 18 causingthe LED 18 to light up, which is visible via the translucent end cap 12.Activation of the LED may mimic the appearance of a glowing ember at theend of a conventional cigarette. As liquid present in the wick 32 isconverted into an aerosol, more liquid is drawn into the wick 32 fromthe liquid reservoir 36 by capillary action and thus is available to beconverted into an aerosol through subsequent activation of the heatingcoil 30.

Some e-cigarette are intended to be disposable and the electric power inthe battery 22 is intended to be sufficient to vaporize the liquidcontained within the liquid reservoir 36, after which the e-cigarette 10is thrown away. In other embodiments, the battery 22 is rechargeable andthe liquid reservoir 36 is refillable. In the cases where the liquidreservoir 36 is a toroidal cavity, this may be achieved by refilling theliquid reservoir 36 via a refill port (not shown in FIG. 1). In otherembodiments, the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16 of the e-cigarette10 is detachable from the power supply portion 14 and a newatomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16 can be fitted with a new liquidreservoir 36 thereby replenishing the supply of liquid. In some cases,replacing the liquid reservoir 36 may involve replacement of the heatingcoil 30 and the wick 32 along with the replacement of the liquidreservoir 36. A replaceable unit comprising the atomizer 28 and theliquid reservoir 36 may be referred to as a cartomizer.

The new liquid reservoir may be in the form of a cartridge (not shown inFIG. 1) defining a passage (or multiple passages) through which a userinhales aerosol. In other embodiments, the aerosol may flow around theexterior of the cartridge to the air inhalation port 38.

Of course, in addition to the above description of the structure andfunction of a typical e-cigarette 10, variations also exist. Forexample, the LED 18 may be omitted. The airflow sensor 26 may be placed,for example, adjacent to the end cap 12 rather than in the middle of thee-cigarette. The airflow sensor 26 may be replaced by, or supplementedwith, a switch which enables a user to activate the e-cigarette manuallyrather than in response to the detection of a change in airflow or airpressure.

Different types of atomizers may be used. Thus, for example, theatomizer may have a heating coil in a cavity in the interior of a porousbody soaked in liquid. In this design, aerosol is generated byevaporating the liquid within the porous body either by activation ofthe coil heating the porous body or alternatively by the heated airpassing over or through the porous body. Alternatively the atomizer mayuse a piezoelectric atomizer to create an aerosol either in combinationor in the absence of a heater.

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded assembly view of an eCig power supplyportion 212, consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure.The power supply portion 212 houses a number of electrical componentsthat facilitate the re-charging and re-use of the power supply portion212 with disposable and refillable atomizer/liquid reservoir portions(14 as shown in FIG. 1), which are also referred to as cartomizers. Abattery 218 is electrically coupled to controller circuitry 222 on aprinted circuit board. A sensor 224 for determining one or morecharacteristics of a user's draw from the eCig is also located on theprinted circuit board, and communicatively coupled to the controllercircuitry 222. In various embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure, the sensor 224 may be a mass air-flow sensor, a pressuresensor, a velocity sensor, a heater coil temperature sensor, or anyother sensor that may capture relevant draw characteristics (eitherdirectly or through indirect correlations). In the present embodiment,the sensor 224 is a mass air-flow sensor that determines the flow of airacross the sensor 224 on the surface of the printed circuit board. Themeasured flow of air is then drawn through the cartomizer 14 and into auser's mouth. By measuring the mass flow rate of air through the powersupply portion 212, the controller circuitry 222 may adjust a heatingprofile of a heating coil in a cartomizer (e.g., power, length of time,etc.), as well as provide a variable visual indication of the strengthof the draw—by way of LEDs 220 _(A-D) which may be independentlyaddressed by the controller circuitry or powered at varying intensitiesto indicate characteristics of the eCig's functionality. For example,varying the illumination intensity based on the sensed mass air-flow. Infurther embodiments, the LEDs may also indicate other functional aspectsof the eCig, such as remaining battery life, charging, sleep mode, amongothers. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a drawcharacteristic may be the length of a draw, volume of a draw, mass ofair moving through the eCig during the draw, velocity of air during thedraw, the change over time of one or more of the above drawcharacteristics, cut-off and/or thresholds associated with one or moreof the above draw characteristics, time to peak of a drawcharacteristic, among others readily measurable characteristics.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, electrical pinsextending from the printed circuit board may be electrically coupled toa cartomizer, and thereby allow for both energy transfer and datacommunication between the power supply portion 212 and cartomizer (notshown). In various other embodiments, pins may extend from a surface ofthe printed circuit board to an exterior of the power supply portion tofacilitate charging and data communication with external circuitry.

To provide user indications of status, power remaining, use, errormessages, among other relevant information, a flexible printed circuitboard 221 is communicatively coupled to controller circuitry 222 viawire leads 242 _(A-B). The flexible circuit board 221 may include one ormore light sources. In the present embodiment, the flexible circuitboard 221 includes LEDs 220 _(A-E). When assembled into the rest of thepower supply portion 212, the light emitting diodes 220 _(A-D) bothilluminate a circumferential portion of light guide 216 and a tipdiffuser 246 that thereby illuminates a distal end of the light guide216. The tip diffuser 246 and the light guide 216 together facilitateeven illumination of the distal end of the power supply portion 212 inresponse to the activation of the LEDs 220 _(A-D). In other embodiments,the flexible circuit board 221 may not require an LED substantiallydirected at the tip diffuser 246; for example, where the light guide 216directs light from the LEDs 220 _(A-D) through the tip diffuser 246 andthereby illuminates the distal end of the light guide.

As shown in FIG. 2, once electrically coupled to one another (e.g., bysolder), battery 218, flexible printed circuit board 221, and a printedcircuit board containing controller circuitry 222 and sensor 224 areencased by upper sub-assembly housing 240 and lower sub-assembly housing241. The upper and lower sub-assembly housing portions positively locatethe various components with the sub-assembly. In many embodiments, upperand lower sub-assembly housing portions utilize locating pins andintegral locking features (e.g., snap features) to maintain thesub-assembly after assembly.

Once assembly is complete on the sub-assembly, the sub-assembly may beslid into tube 245 from one end and tip diffuser 246 and circumferentiallight guide 216 may be inserted from the opposite end of the tube tocomplete assembly of power supply portion 212. By way of the distal tipof the circumferential light guide 216 and translucent portion 248 intube 245, light emitting diodes 220 _(A-D) may illuminate evenly arounda distal circumferential portion of the tube 245, and a distal tip.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, translucent portion248 on tube 245 may include various different patterns, shapes, imagesand/or logos. In the present embodiment, the translucent portion 248 isa plurality of triangles. The translucent portion 248 may be laseretched on to a painted surface of the tube 245, silk screened, drilledor otherwise cut into an outer surface of the tube 245, and/or the tubeitself can be (semi-)translucent and the pattern may be disposed on anouter surface of circumferential light guide 216.

FIG. 3A is an isometric front view of a circumferential light guide 316,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 3A, a circuit board receiving slot 352 forms distal ends of thecircumferential light guide 316. When assembled, LEDs are located withinthe circuit board receiving slot 352 and faced to illuminate the distalends of the circumferential light guide, as well as distal outer surface351. The light then travels from the distal ends of the circumferentialportion within the circumferential light guide and evenly diffuses outfrom outer surface 350 in response to a variable surface texture on theouter surface that accounts for the location of the LEDs in the circuitboard receiving slot 352, as well as the illumination patterns of eachof the LEDs. One exemplary implementation of variable surface texture isshown in relation to FIGS. 3B-D.

A circuit board including LEDs is inserted into a circuit boardreceiving slot 352 of circumferential light guide 316, which is bound bylongitudinally-extending slot walls 363 _(A-B) andcircumferentially-extending slot wall 364. The slot walls 363 and 364receive light from LEDs on-board the circuit board and distributes thelight throughout a partial circumferential feature 361 and end capfeature 367.

During installation of a circumferential light guide 316 into a powersupply portion, an alignment grove 365 aligns with a correspondingfeature on a tube 245, and prevents the circumferential light guide fromspinning within the tube. Once the circumferential light guide 316 isinserted into the tube 245, a retention tooth 362 at a distal end of thecircumferential light guide couples to a mating portion on an uppersub-assembly housing 240 (as shown in FIG. 2); which in conjunction withfriction ribs 360 which are press fit against the tube 240 and lightguide positioning ring 368—the circumferential light guide 316 isproperly located within the tube 245 and coupled therein. The lightguide positioning ring 368 defining a proximal facing annular surfacethat seats against a distal end of the tube 245 in the assembled powersupply portion 212.

One or more air inlet channels 366 in a distal outer surface 351 of anend cap feature 367 may provide air inlets to facilitate the flow of airthrough power supply portion 212; for example, where a user draws on anair inlet 38 of the atomizer/liquid reservoir portion 16.

FIG. 3B is a top view, FIG. 3C is a side view, and FIG. 3D is a bottomview of a circumferential light guide 316, as shown in FIG. 3A,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure. The variablesurface texturing of outer surface 350 is indicated by gray-scale—withthe lighter surface texturing indicated by the lighter shading 356,intermediate surface texturing indicated by the medium shading 357, andthe heaviest surface texturing indicated by the darkest shading 358.Accordingly, in areas near an LED where illumination is the greatest,texturing on the outer surface 350 is the lowest as additional diffusionis not necessary. However, the farther away and/or off-center from theLED, the less illumination that reaches a given location along thecircumferential light guide 316—necessitating additional texturing toimprove diffusion of light at that location. By implementing the surfacetexturing shown in FIGS. 3B-D, uneven illumination may be compensatedfor by the surface texture of the light guide to substantially produceeven illumination of the light guide around a circumference and lengththereof.

FIG. 4A is an isometric front view of a tip diffuser 446, consistentwith various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4A, afront surface of the tip diffuser 446 is shown including a convex lens447. The tip diffuser 446, when positioned in front of an LED (or otherlight source), diffuses the received light to produce an evenillumination along a distal outer surface 351 of circumferential lightguide 316 (as shown in FIG. 3A). In various embodiments, the tipdiffuser may include fixation prongs 449 extending from an outercircumference thereof that facilitate localization and/or coupling ofthe tip diffuser 446 within the circumferential light guide 316 onceassembled. Once the tip diffuser 446 is mounted within a circumferentiallight guide 216 via the fixation prongs 449, the prongs define a seriesof flow channels for air that traverses past the air inlets 366 (asshown in FIG. 3A).

FIG. 4B is an isometric back view of the tip diffuser 446 of FIG. 4A,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure. The back-sideof the tip diffuser 446 includes a plurality of light diffusing features448 _(A-C) which together form a pattern. In the present embodiment, thelight diffusing features 448 _(A-C) are triangular shapes cut into aback surface of the tip diffuser 446. When light (e.g., from a singlepoint source) is transmitted toward a back surface of the tip diffuser446, the light diffusing features 448 _(A-C) diffuse the light travelingthrough the tip diffuser 446 to produce an evenly illuminated frontsurface of the tip diffuser.

In various other embodiments of the present disclosure, the tip diffuser446 may include various other optical diffusion techniques known tothose skilled in the art, including, for example, surface texturing,lensing, and material characteristics or additives to the tip diffuser446 that facilitate internal light diffusion. In some embodiments of thepresent disclosure the side-walls of the light diffusing features 448_(A-C) are sloped, straight, or rounded to further facilitate diffusionof light through the tip diffuser 446.

The light diffusing features 448 _(A-C) of FIG. 4 may take variousshapes, with varying diffusion characteristics. In some embodiments, thelight diffusing features 448 _(A-C) may be a material additive, such assurface texturing or more defined features. In further embodiments, anarray of lensing or other features extending into a back and/or frontside of the tip diffuser 446 may also be utilized to achieve desiredeven light illumination across a front surface of the tip diffuser 446from a single point light source.

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional side view of the tip diffuser 446 of FIG.4A, consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shownin FIG. 4C, the tip diffuser 446 forms a bi-convex lens including aconvex lens 447 on a front surface of the tip diffuser, and anotherconvex lens on a back surface, and a plurality of diffusing features 448_(A-C) extending into a light receiving surface of the tip diffuser 446.The convex lens and the light diffusing features 448 _(A-C) on the lightreceiving surface facilitate consistent illumination of the lighttransmitting surface. After light travels through the tip diffuser 446,the convex lens 447 on the light transmitting surface distributes thelight across a wide viewing angle.

In view of the present example embodiments of tip diffusers, a skilledartisan will readily be capable of developing various other tipdiffusers that achieve the same goal of even light illumination across adistal surface of an eCig using various other known light lensingtechniques, and without undue experimentation.

FIG. 5 is an isometric front view of a flexible circuit board 521,consistent with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown inthe exploded view of the power supply portion 212, FIG. 2, the flexiblecircuit board 521 (also referred to as a flex circuit) once assembledstraddles a battery 218, with a portion 555 of the flex circuit 521 bentat a right angle relative to the rest of the flex circuit, and wireleads 542 _(A-B) make another right angle after extending from the flexcircuit 521 to fully encompass the battery 218 and to communicativelycouple to controller circuitry 222. LEDs 520 _(A-D) may be side-firingLEDs that illuminate opposing distal ends of circumferential light guide216 when the flex circuit 521 is positioned within a circuit boardreceiving slot 352 of the light guide 316 (as shown in FIG. 3A). LED 520_(E) on the folded portion of the flex circuit 521 may be a top-firingLED which illuminates a tip diffuser 446 and a distal outer surface 351of a circumferential light guide (as shown in FIG. 2). In variousembodiments of the present disclosure, the LEDs 520 _(A-E) may bedependently or independently addressable, and may be powered byamplifiers that facilitate variable illumination output of the LEDs.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, flex circuit 521 mayinclude various electrical components, besides LEDs 520 _(A-E), such asdriver circuitry for the LEDs 520 (e.g., operational amplifiers), amongother components.

LEDs 520 _(A-E) may be utilized to indicate various statuses, modes, andoperational characteristics to the user. For example, during operation,the LEDs 520 _(A-E) may glow to indicate operation of the eCig (e.g.,where the user is taking a draw). In further more specific embodiments,based on an input from a sensor indicative of a user's draw strength,the LEDs 520 _(A-E) may fluctuate in intensity dependent on the user'sdraw strength. The relationship between the sensor output and the LEDillumination being either a linear or non-linear relationship. Inspecific embodiments, this relationship may be controlled by a formulasuch as a transfer function, and more specifically a logarithmictransfer function. Similarly, in embodiments where the LEDs 520 _(A-E)are independently addressable, based on a sensor input to the controllercircuitry, the intensity of each LED may be independently varied inorder to create a variable smoldering affect similar to a user taking adraw from a traditional cigarette. In one example embodiment, the LEDfurthest from the distal tip would lightly flicker when idle betweenuser draws. When a user initiates a draw from the eCig, the brightnessand the number of LEDs activated during the draw may be varied based onthe sensed strength of the draw and vary over the length of the draw,thereby creating an enhanced user experience.

In further embodiments, one or more of the LEDs 520 _(A-E) may bemulti-color LEDs to facilitate customization of the user experienceand/or to further facilitate communication of various states of the eCigsuch as charging, low battery, operation, sleep mode, among others. Asone example embodiment, to indicate battery charging, one or more of theLEDs may ramp up from an off state to full light intensity beforeramping back down to an off state, and repeating. When the battery lifeis low, a heartbeat-type illumination intensity profile may be utilizedto indicate low battery life to the user. Similarly, blinks of varyingfrequency may also be used to indicated messages to the user.

In various implementations of the present disclosure, LEDs may be drivenwith reduced duty cycles to create the appearance of dimmed lighting.

In specific embodiments of the present disclosure, it can be desirableto maintain a consistent visual appearance to the user throughout a usecycle of a battery. However, as the battery drains over a use cycle, theamount of voltage driving the LEDs is diminished. In such aconfiguration, the visual appearance (e.g., the brightness) associatedwith a given visual indication of the eCig changes over the use cycle.To compensate for the battery's varying voltage, controller circuitry222 periodically measures the battery voltage and compensates for thechange in voltage from a full charge by varying the duty cycle of theLEDs. Thereby maintaining a consistent illumination of the LEDs over theuse cycle of the battery, for a given visual indication.

After an initial draw from a user, after a period of inactivity,controller circuitry 222 of the eCig may enter a session mode wherebyone or more LEDs 520 remain active during a set period of time (e.g.,indicative of a typical smoke break, 5 minutes). The length of thissession may be indicated by the LEDs 520, which can appear to smolderbetween draws. After the session length is exceeded, the LEDs aredeactivated indicating that the session has ended.

FIG. 6A is a top view of a partially assembled eCig 612, consistent withvarious aspects of the present disclosure. The partial assembly includesa battery 618 and a flex circuit 621 at least partially contained withincircumferential light guide 616. The flex circuit being furtherpositioned with a circuit board receiving slot 352 (as shown in FIG. 3A)of the light guide 616, and thereby directing side-fire LEDs 620 _(A-D)toward opposing distal ends of the circumferential light guide 616. Thelight, after entering the opposing distal ends of the circumferentiallight guide 616, travels through the circumferential light guide and isdiffused from an outer surface 350 of the light guide 616 based on theillumination pattern of the LED and the variable texturing applied tothe outer surface 350. In embodiments where a consistent illuminationalong a length and circumference of the light guide is desirable, theillumination pattern of the LED in conjunction with the texturingapplied to the outer surface 350 of the light guide 616 results in thelight guide evenly disbursing light around the circumference of theouter surface 350. In yet other embodiments, it may be desirable toachieve uneven illumination of the light pipe or to create patterns,images, shapes, etc. with the light. In such embodiments, based at leastin part on the illumination intensity profile, the surface texturing onthe outer surface 350 of the light guide 616 may be varied in such a wayas to create such patterns, images, shapes, etc.—by increasing intensityof light distribution at a given location by increasing surface texture,and decreasing intensity of light distribution at a given location bydecreasing surface texture.

Wire leads 642 _(A-C) are communicatively coupled (e.g., soldered) tosolder pads on both the flex circuit 621 and controller circuitry 222(as shown in FIG. 2), thereby facilitating the transmission of power andcommunication signals between the controller circuitry and flex circuit621.

A tip diffuser 446 is positioned within a circumference ofcircumferential light guide 616, and between a flex circuit 612 and anend cap feature 367. The tip diffuser 446 diffusing light received froma light source on the flex circuit 612 and diffuses it on to a distalouter surface 351 of the circumferential light guide 616.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional front view of the partially assembled powersupply portion 612 of FIG. 6A, consistent with various aspects of thepresent disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6B, LEDs 620 _(A-B) on flex circuit621 are positioned in the power supply portion 612 between distal endsof a circumferential light guide 616. When activated, the LEDs 620_(A-B) direct light into the distal ends of the circumferential lightguide 616 and the light guide evenly diffuses the light from the lightguide out of an outer surface 350 thereof. A tube 645 around an outerperimeter of the power supply portion 612 may include translucentportions 648 _(A-C) (e.g., etch patterns) that allow for the diffusedlight to escape the power supply portion 612 at specific locations andprovide a desired effect. For example, appearing to glow in response toa draw from the user.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an electroniccigarette including a sensor, controller circuitry, and a light source.The sensor determining a user draw characteristic, and transmitting adraw signal indicative of the determined user draw characteristic. Thecontroller circuitry communicatively coupled to the sensor, and receivesthe draw signal from which it determines a light intensity signaltransmission. The light source is communicatively coupled to thecontroller circuitry, and receives the light intensity signal from thesensor—thereafter emitting an intensity of light corresponding to thereceived light intensity signal. In some embodiments, the user drawcharacteristic comprises a magnitude of a user draw on the electroniccigarette. In more specific embodiments, the sensor comprises a massairflow sensor, wherein the user draw characteristic corresponds to amass of air moving through the electronic cigarette during the userdraw.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to anelectronic cigarette including a sensor, a light source, and controllercircuitry. The sensor determines a magnitude of a draw characteristic,and transmits a signal indicative of the determined magnitude of thedraw characteristic. The light source emits a varying intensity of lightin response to an input signal. The controller circuitry iscommunicatively coupled to the sensor and the light source, and thecontroller circuitry receives, from the sensor, the signal indicative ofthe determined magnitude of the draw characteristic, associates thedetermined magnitude of the draw characteristic with a light intensityof the light source, and generates and transmits the input signal to thelight source based on the light intensity associated with the determinedmagnitude of the draw characteristic. In some embodiments, the sensor isa mass airflow sensor that determines a mass flowrate of the draw, aheater coil temperature sensor, or a capacitive velocity sensor.

In various embodiments the association between the determined magnitudeof the draw characteristic and the light intensity of the light sourceare non-linear. In one specific embodiment, the association is alogarithmic transfer function.

A light source as disclosed herein may be one or more light emittingdiodes, the one or more light emitting diodes may be dependently and/orindependently addressable by the controller circuitry.

In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, inresponse to a change in a draw characteristic measured by a sensor overtime, controller circuitry in the eCig may vary the input signal andthereby visually indicate a change in a draw characteristic.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to acircumferential light guide apparatus including a partialcircumferential feature, opposing distal ends on either side of thepartial circumferential feature, an aperture between the distal ends,and an outer surface. The opposing distal ends receive and direct lightinto the partial circumferential feature. In response to receivinglight, the outer surface which includes variable surface texture, evenlydistributes the directed light along the outer surface of thecircumferential light guide. In some embodiments, the circumferentiallight guide apparatus further includes an electronic circuit boardpositioned within the aperture. The electronic circuit board includingat least one light source substantially directed toward at least one ofthe opposing distal ends.

Various embodiments of a circumferential light guide apparatus include atip diffuser coupled to an inner surface of a partial circumferentialfeature. The tip diffuser receives light directed along a longitudinalaxis relative to the partial circumferential feature at a proximalsurface of the tip diffuser, and evenly distributes the received lightalong a distal surface of the tip diffuser. In some aspects of thepresent disclosure, the tip diffuser is a bi-convex lens with aplurality of diffusing features extending into the proximal surface ofthe tip diffuser. In specific embodiments, the plurality of diffusingfeatures are pyramidal apertures extending into the proximal surface ofthe tip diffuser.

Aspects of the circumferential light guide apparatus may includevariable surface texture of an outer surface of a partialcircumferential feature. In one embodiment, the variable surfacetexturing being minimal near the opposing distal ends, and increasingwith a circumferential distance from the distal ends of the partialcircumferential feature.

A circumferential light guide apparatus may also include an electroniccircuit board, positioned within the aperture. The electronic circuitboard including at least one light source substantially directed towardat least one of the opposing distal ends, and at least one light sourcesubstantially directed toward a tip diffuser. In more specificembodiments, the light sources directed substantially toward at leastone of the opposing distal ends may be offset relative to one anotheralong a longitudinal axis of the partial circumferential feature.

It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may beemployed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize,even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-knowncomponents and processing techniques may be omitted so as to notunnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The examplesused herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of waysin which the disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those ofskill in the art to practice the embodiments of the disclosure.Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construedas limiting the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, it is noted that likereference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof, as used inthis disclosure, mean “including, but not limited to,” unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The terms “a,” “an,” and “the,” as used in this disclosure, means “oneor more,” unless expressly specified otherwise.

Although process steps, method steps, algorithms, or the like, may bedescribed in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithmsmay be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, anysequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarilyindicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. Thesteps of the processes, methods or algorithms described herein may beperformed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performedsimultaneously.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readilyapparent that more than one device or article may be used in place of asingle device or article. Similarly, where more than one device orarticle is described herein, it will be readily apparent that a singledevice or article may be used in place of the more than one device orarticle. The functionality or the features of a device may bealternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are notexplicitly described as having such functionality or features.

Although several embodiments have been described above with a certaindegree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerousalterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from thespirit of the present disclosure. It is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes indetail or structure may be made without departing from the presentteachings. The foregoing description and following claims are intendedto cover all such modifications and variations.

Various embodiments are described herein of various apparatuses,systems, and methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to providea thorough understanding of the overall structure, function,manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in thespecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodimentsmay be practiced without such specific details. In other instances,well-known operations, components, and elements have not been describedin detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in thespecification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand thatthe embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limitingexamples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structuraland functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do notnecessarily limit the scope of the embodiments, the scope of which isdefined solely by the appended claims.

Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “someembodiments,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or the like, means thata particular feature, structure, or characteristic described inconnection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment.Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in someembodiments,” “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or the like, inplaces throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures,or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics illustrated or described in connection with oneembodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the featuresstructures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments withoutlimitation.

It will be appreciated that the terms “proximal” and “distal” may beused throughout the specification with reference to a clinicianmanipulating one end of an instrument used to treat a patient. The term“proximal” refers to the portion of the instrument closest to theclinician and the term “distal” refers to the portion located furthestfrom the clinician. It will be further appreciated that for concisenessand clarity, spatial terms such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “up,” and“down” may be used herein with respect to the illustrated embodiments.However, surgical instruments may be used in many orientations andpositions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and absolute.

Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or inpart, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein isincorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materialsdoes not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or otherdisclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to theextent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth hereinsupersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference.Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated byreference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions,statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only beincorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between thatincorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

1. An electronic smoking device comprising: a first housing containing abattery, an air flow sensor, a plurality of LEDs, a light pipe, and aflex circuit connected to the battery and connected to a PCB havingcontrol circuitry, a second housing connectable to the second housing,the second housing containing a vaporization chamber, a heating coilwrapped around a wick, the ends of the wick abutting or extending into aliquid supply, and a central aerosol passage extending though the liquidsupply, and the light pipe directing light from the LEDs towards adistal end of the electronic smoking.
 2. The electronic smoking of claim1 further comprising a subassembly housing supporting the LEDS and thePCB.
 3. The electronic smoking of claim 2 wherein the subassembly isinsertable from an end of the first housing.
 4. The electronic smokingof claim 1 having 4 LEDs.
 5. The electronic smoking of claim 1 having 5LEDs.
 6. The electronic smoking of claim 1 having multi-colored LEDs. 7.The electronic smoking of claim 1 wherein the illumination pattern ofthe LEDs indicates charging, user draw strength, or low battery charge.8. The electronic smoking of claim 1 wherein the first housing isconnected to the second housing by a friction push fit, a snap fit, abayonet attachment, a magnetic fit and/or screw threads.
 9. Theelectronic smoking of claim 1 wherein the air flow sensor is amicrophone switch with a deformable membrane, a Hall element, and/or anelectromechanical sensor.
 10. The electronic smoking of claim 1 whereinthe airflow sensor is mounted on a PCB proximal to the second housing.11. The electronic smoking device of claim 1 wherein the light pipedirects light from the LEDs towards a distal end of the electronicsmoking device.
 12. An electronic smoking device comprising: a firsthousing containing a PCB having control circuitry electrically connectedto a battery, the control circuitry electrically connected to an airflow sensor and to a plurality of LEDs; a light pipe at a first end ofthe first housing, the light pipe positioned to guide light from theLEDs; a second housing connectable to the second housing, the secondhousing containing a vaporization chamber, a heating coil wrapped arounda wick, the wick having ends abutting or extending into a liquid supplycontaining a liquid, and an aerosol passage though the liquid supply.13. The electronic smoking device of claim 12 wherein the controlcircuitry is electrically connected to the battery by a flex circuit.14. The electronic smoking device of claim 12 wherein the heating coilis wound about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of theelectronic smoking device.